Two former Parramatta Eels players are accused of harbouring semi-automatic weapons and possessing more than half-a-million dollars in cash after dramatic arrests in Sydney's Centennial Park yesterday.

Christopher Pyne and Steve Price hurl insults on TV show

Steve Price and Christopher Pyne traded schoolyard-style insults on live TV last night during a discussion about the resignation of NSW Premier Mike Baird.

When broadcaster Price was asked on The Project about Baird's shock departure, he used the opportunity to take a dig at the Defence Industry Minister, a guest panellist on the show.

While he appeared to be speaking partly in jest, it kicked off a verbal joust between the pair that escalated into a fierce slanging match.

Referring to Pyne's seat at the end of The Project desk, he said: "The great thing about what he [Baird] did today is, unlike most politicians, he put self-preservation to one side, he put ego to one side, and that’s a lesson I think a lot of people, including the bloke on the end of your desk tonight, might learn."

The Liberal frontbencher hit back immediately: "It’s remarkable to me that a guy whose shirt is the same colour at his fake tan is roasting me".

Price retorted with a jibe about Pyne's "silly glasses", even as co host Waleed Aly pointed out the MP wasn't wearing any, but Price was.

Any hope of a measured debate about Baird's resignation quickly evaporated.

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But it failed to stop a fired up Pyne who continued his tirade against Price's appearance, declaring: "I’ve washed goldfish that look better than he does."

He then corrected himself, saying he meant to say "flushed" and not washed.

The Melbourne broadcaster had run out of verbal ammunition at this stage and resorted to an anecdote about the South Australian pollie's ignorance of NSW politics.

"I’ll give you a story ... He once confused me with (fellow broadcaster) Ray Hadley. So he knows a lot more about Adelaide than he does about Sydney," he said.

Pyne laughed off the quip, and in the only moment of consensus of their exchanges, admitted the story was true.

Steve Price and Christopher Pyne traded schoolyard-style insults on live TV last during a discussion about the resignation of NSW Premier Mike Baird.

When broadcaster Price was asked on The Project about Baird's shock departure, he used the opportunity to take a dig at the Defence Industry Minister, a guest panellist on the show.

While he appeared to be speaking partly in jest, it kicked off a verbal joust between the pair that escalated into a fierce slanging match.

Referring to Pyne's seat at the end of The Project desk, he said: "The great thing about what he [Baird] did today is, unlike most politicians, he put self-preservation to one side, he put ego to one side, and that’s a lesson I think a lot of people, including the bloke on the end of your desk tonight, might learn."

The Liberal frontbencher hit back immediately: "It’s remarkable to me that a guy whose shirt is the same colour at his fake tan is roasting me".

Price retorted with a jibe about Pyne's "silly glasses", even as co host Waleed Aly pointed out the MP wasn't wearing any, but Price was.

Any hope of a measured debate about Baird's resignation quickly evaporated.

But it failed to stop a fired up Pyne who continued his tirade against Price's appearance, declaring: "I’ve washed goldfish that look better than he does."

He then corrected himself, saying he meant to say "flushed" and not washed.

The Melbourne broadcaster had run out of verbal ammunition at this stage and resorted to an anecdote about the South Australian pollie's ignorance of NSW politics.

"I’ll give you a story ... He once confused me with (fellow broadcaster) Ray Hadley. So he knows a lot more about Adelaide than he does about Sydney," he said.

Pyne laughed off the quip, and in the only moment of consensus of their exchanges, admitted the story was true.